Adjustable window shade



1966 s. GUFFAN ADJUSTABLE WINDOW SHADE Filed Feb. 16, 1965 INVENTOR. Ja /V0255 667F 21)- lzw ML,

United States Patent 3,265,116 ADJUSTABLE WINDOW SHADE Samuel Gutfan, 1488 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Feb. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 433,045 6 Claims. (Cl. 160-121) This invention rel-ates generally to blinds or window shades. More specifically it relates to window shades that are vertically adjustable.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a window shade having self-contained means to selectively seal oif the passage of light through either an upper portion of the window, a lower portion thereof, an intermediate portion thereof, none thereof or all thereof.

Another object is to provide a window shade having the above object wherein the shade is of opaque material and which is supported from a transparent member secured to a window shade roller thereabove, thereby permitting the passage of light between the upper portion of the shade and the shade roller.

Still another object is to provide a window shade which is vertically movable between a pair of transparent panels, thereby maintaining the shade clean from dust.

Other objects are to provide a window shade unit which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eflicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing parts thereof spaced apart for the purpose of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a modified construction;

FIG. 2b is another view similar to FIG. 2 showing still another modified construction;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 i a fragmentary perspective view of a modified construction wherein only a single pull cord is used on each side for raising both of the opaque sheet panels;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a method of attachment of the transparent sheets to the roller, and

FIG. 6 is an end view of the structure shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 represents a window shade unit according to the present invention wherein there is a shade assembly 12 which is supported from a pair of left and right brackets 14 and 16, respectively.

The shade assembly is comprised of a roller 18 upon which there is secured a pair of transparent sheets 20 between which there is carried an opaque sheet 22.

The roller 18 is a conventional type, having a hollow chamber therewithin to house a coil spring 24, one end 26 of which is secured to the roller and the other end 28 of which is secured to a freely rotatable stub shaft 30 that has a flat bar 32 projecting out of one end thereof, as shown in FIG. 1; the bar projecting beyond the end of the roller. At the opposite end of the roller, a pin 34 is secured thereto and the pin likewise projects beyond the end of the roller.

Two transparent sheets 20 of rectangular configuration are attached along one edge to the roller by ring-like clamps 98 and wound up thereupon; the sheets 20 being adjacent to each other. At the opposite edges 36 the sheets 20 are clamped between a pair of wooden sticks 38 by means of a plurality of clips 40.

3,265,116 Patented August 9, 1965 Between the sheets 20 the opaque sheet 22 is secured thereto; the opaque sheet being of a shorter length than the transparent sheets. The opaque sheet is folded over at approximately its midportion to form a fold edge 42.

The opaque sheet is secured by adhesive 43 or heat seal being along its fold edge 42 to one of the transparent sheets, as shown in FIG. 2. The opaque sheet, thus folded and attached, now comprises two panels 44 and 46 adjacent each other which depend vertically between the transparent sheets. At the lower end of each panel 44 and 46 the lower edge 48 is folded over to form a pocket 50 into which a stick 52 is inserted. The ends of sticks 52 project approximately /2 inch on each beyond the panels 44 and 46. An opening 53 is made in each end of each stick 52.

Two cords 54 and 56 are secured by one of their ends to adjacent ends of stick 52. Two other cords 58 and 69 are secured by one of their ends to the opposite adjacent ends of stick 52. The cords 54 and 56 extend upward and pass through an opening 62 in left bracket 14, the cords then passing horizontally above the roller 18 and through an opening 64 in the right bracket 16 from where the cords depend downward. At the lower ends thereof a knot or weight 66 may be had (as shown in FIG. 1) so as to facilitate pulling thereof by a persons hand. The cords 58 and 60 extend upward from the sticks 52 and pas through the opening 64 in the right bracket 16 from which they then depend in a like manner as cords 54 and 56.

The left bracket 14 has a U-shaped portion which has a rectangular slot 67 therein for purpose of receiving flat bar 32 and preventing rotation thereof when the roller is rolled or rotated. Openings 68 are provided to receive screws or nails for attachment of the bracket to opposite side walls within a window casement. A spur 70 is formed on the bracket which is bent away from the supporting wall to provide clearance to both sides of opening 62 formed in the spur.

'The right bracket 16 is of similar construction except that the rectangular slot 67 is replaced by a circular opening 72 for purpose of supporting rotatably free the pin 34. The right bracket additionally carries a clip 74 between whose spring jaws 76 and 78 the depending cords can be slipped for holding purpose.

In operative use the transparent panels may be wound up on the roller as much as desired so to place-the opaque sheet in the position of the window where wanted. The opaque sheet may be additionally adjusted as follows:

By pulling on cords 54 and 58 the panel 44 may be raised as far as the fold 42. By pulling on cords 56 and 6%) the panel 46 may be raised as far as desired.

In a modified construction (shown in FIG. 2a) the panel 80 can selectively cover either the upper or lower portion of the window.

In another modified construction (shown in FIG. 2b) there are two separate opaque panels 82 and 84 each of which is attached to one of the transparent sheets 20.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

In FIG. 4 a modified construction is shown wherein there is a single pull cord 86 on each side for raising both of the opaque sheet panels together for selectively covering either an upper or lower portion of the window, thereby eliminating the need of two pull cords on each side a is shown in FIG. 1. The purpose of this construction is to attain increased opaqueness under extreme sunlight conditions.

In this form of the invention the pull cord 86 is attached at each end of stick 88 located along the lower edge of one of the opaque sheet panels. A wire clip 90 is secured to adjacent each end of the stick 88. The wire clip 90 comprises a pair of U-shaped wire elements 92 secured pivotably free to one another; each wire element having a hook 94 formed at each terminal end which is secured to a corresponding hook on the other wire element. As is shown in FIG. 4 the clip is attached to the stick by one of the wire elements 92a being straddled thereupon and the other wire element 92b being left -to depend downwardly from the other element 92a. When it is desired that the lower portions of each opaque sheet panel be raised together, then the depending wire element 92b is pivoted sidewardly to the position indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 4, and the end of stick 94 located along the lower edge of the other opaque sheet panel is inserted therein, thereby having stick 94 to be supported by stick 88. Thus by simply raising stick 88, the stick 94 can also be raised; this being accomplished by only one cord at each side of the device.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 a securement means is shown for attaching the upper edges of the transparent sheets 20 to the roller 18. A plurality of circular clips 96 are simply snapped over the sheets after they are placed over the roller. Each clip is formed from a relatively thin fiat flexible sheet metal or plastic material having opposite jaws 98 between which there is a mouth 100 into which the sheets and roller are inserted.

Having thus set forth my invention what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a window shade unit, the combination of a shade assembly and a left and right bracket, said left and right brackets supporting said shade assembly, said shade assembly comprising a roller, a pair of transparent sheets supported on said roller, said transparent sheets being adjacent each other, a space at one portion between said transparent sheets, an opaque sheet within said space between said transparent sheets, means for said opaque sheet being adjustable vertically between said transparent sheets, said transparent sheets being secured along one of their edges to said roller, the opposite ends of said sheets being clamped together between a pair of sticks secured together by a plurality of clips, said transparent sheets being of rectangular configuration.

2. In a window shade unit the combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said left and right bracket comprises a U shaped portion, means in said portion for securing one of the projecting parts at the end of said roller, and said bracket having a bent over spur with opening therethrough for receiving said cords therethrough.

3. In a window shade unit the combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opaque sheet comprises a single panel secured to one of said transparent sheets.

4. In a window shade unit the combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opaque sheet comprises a pair of separate panels each of which is secured one to each of said transparent sheets.

5. In a window shade assembly the combination as set forth in claim 1, a single cord disposed on each side of said opaque sheet, said single cords being secured to the ends of one of the sticks along a lower edge of one of said opaque sheet panels.

6. In a window shade assembly the combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein a wire clip is secured to each end of said stick having said single cord secured thereto, each of said wire clips comprising a pair of U shaped wire elements secured pivotably free to each other, each of said wire elements having a hook formed at each terminal end, said hooks of one wire element being attached to corresponding hooks of said other wire element for free pivotal movement relative to each other, and one of said wire elements being positioned to straddle said stick and the other said wire element,

depending downwardly therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A WINDOW SHADE UNIT, THE COMBINATION OF A SHADE ASSEMBLY AND A LEFT AND RIGHT BRACKET, SAID LEFT AND RIGHT BRACKETS SUPPORTING SAID SHADE ASSEMBLY, SAID SHADE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A ROLLER, A PAIR OF TRANSPARENT SHEETS SUPPORTED ON SAID ROLLER, SAID TRANSPARENT SHEETS BEING ADJACENT EACH OTHER, A SPACE AT ONE PORTION BETWEEN SAID TRANSPARENT SHEETS, AN OPAQUE SHEET WITHIN SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID TRANSPARENT SHEETS, MEANS FOR SAID OPAQUE SHEET BEING ADJUSTABLE VERTICALLY BETWEEN SAID TRANSPARTENT SHEETS, SAID TRANSPARENT SHEETS, BEING SECURED ALONG ONE OF THEIR EDGES OF SAID ROLLER, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SHEETS BEING CLAMPED TOGETHER BETWEEN A PAIR OF STICKS SECURED TOGETHER BY A PLURALITY OF CLIPS, SAID TRANSPARENT SHEETS BEING OF RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION. 